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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 184 -- January 13, 1945, Saturday PM Steinebruck, Belgium Road Bridge
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 184 -- January 13, 1945, Saturday PM Steinebruck, Belgium Road Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 22 Total -- 4 A-20's, 17 A-26's, 1 B-26 (PFF) Modified British System Reference: P-894832 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Poor. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.23829,6.18566 (50° 14' 18" N, 6° 11' 8" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) vP894832) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
| Date | Report |   |
A/C Serial # Type |
Mis- sion # |
Bomb Sq |
Location | Personnel (Status when available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 1945 Saturday |
AAR 45-1-13-527 |
|
41-39210 A-26B |
184 | 671 | Station A-69 - Laon, France | Sears, Aubrey C. (Not injured)
Wells, Jimmie J. (Not injured) |
| Jan 13, 1945 Saturday |
AAR 45-1-13-523 |
|
41-39204 A-26B |
184 | 668 | Station A-55 - Melun, France | Roberts, William H. (Not injured)
Windisch, Raymond P. (Not injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 184 -- January 13, 1945, Saturday PM
Steinebruck, Belgium -- Road Bridge
| 1 668th 43-22063 5H-A A-20J Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. S/Sgt Roberts, J.H. S/Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
2 670th 44-614 F6-A A-20K Capt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. Cpl Perujo, R.J. |
3 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. Cpl Spence, J.I. |
| 1 671st 44-185 5C-G A-20K Capt DeMun, E.E. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Donnelly, W.W. Sgt Kruger, C.J. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
2 671st 43-22023 5C-X A-20J Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Skelton, T.W. S/Sgt Rojas, A.A. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
3 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
| 1 671st 44-106 5C-E A-20K Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt Cheuvront, R.W. |
2 671st 41-39210 5C-J A-26B Capt Sears, A.C. M/Sgt Wells, J.J. |
3 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Take Off] |
| 4 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. |
5 671st 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. Sgt Chest, D. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
6 671st 41-39284 5C-C A-26B Lt Edstrom, L.W. Cpl Pompa, P.A. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
| 1 668th 41-39269 5H-K A-26B Lt Chalmers, J.J. Sgt Fortner, K. |
2 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
3 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Buchanan, R.C. Sgt Calabrese, C.L. |
| 4 668th 41-39219 5H-E A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
5 668th 41-39204 5H-G A-26B Lt Roberts, W.H. Sgt Windisch, R.P. [Belly Landed on Take Off] |
6 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Nathanson, A.S. Cpl Kaminski, C.J. [Returned Early Wheels Would Not Retract] |
| SPARE 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. Cpl Klingman, W.H. |
| 1 670th 44-073 F6-J A-20K Capt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. Lt Ackerson, D.G. Sgt Friday, L.R. Sgt Collier, J.L. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
2 670th 41-39235 F6-M A-26B Lt Popeney, H.V. S/Sgt Candler, H.C.S. |
3 668th 41-39319 5H-B A-26B Lt Johnson, E.L. T/Sgt Goggin, J.F. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
| 4 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Heinke, W.R. S/Sgt Ricketson, J.J. |
5 670th 43-22337 F6-O A-26B Lt Turman, A.R. Cpl Rorbakken, R.R. |
6 670th 43-22296 F6-D A-26B Lt Errotabere, M. Cpl Bowie, E.A. |
| 1 669th 43-22024 2A-E A-20J Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. Lt Enman, R.E. S/Sgt Carter, A.E. Sgt Reid, K.A. |
2 669th 41-39238 2A-M A-26B Lt Hayter, E.R. Cpl Dalton, A.A. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
3 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Sorrels, D.W. S/Sgt Malara, V.A. |
| 4 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Griffin, D.L., Jr. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
5 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Johnson, R.K. Cpl Brandt, H.E. |
6 669th 41-39241 2A-F A-26B Lt Willard, J.A. Cpl Hinker, C.V. |
| 1 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Hall, R.B. S/Sgt Burger, L.C. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
2 670th 41-39222 F6-S A-26B Lt Barausky, P.P. Pvt Wilson, B.R. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
3 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Capt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Blackford, D.S. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
| 4 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Hummer, J.A. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
5 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
6 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. Sgt Belcas, J.O. [No Take Off Due to Crash on Runway] |
| SPARE 669th 41-39333 2A-Q A-26B Lt VanMeter, G.C., Jr. Sgt Kiker, C.M. [Returned Early Could Not Catch Formation Due to Crash on Runway] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 184 -- January 13, 1945, Saturday PM
Steinebruck, Belgium -- Road Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The bad weather continued and after a day of rest, the crews took off on the 13th to attack a road bridge in the German town of Steinebruck. Only 19 planes made the attack, dropping on the PPF plane. The bombs missed the bridge but again severed a road. Weak, heavy flak was fired at the formation during the long bomb run taken by the PPF plane, and at the target, but only minor damage was inflicted. Major Price led the formation.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 193
Mission #184 - 13 January - Steinbruck Rail Bridge. Major Price, Lt. Hand, BN led Box I. Lts. Lackovich and Muir, BN led a flight. Lt. Roberts with gunner Sgt. Windisch crashed on take off, having just cleared the runway as the plane mushed and settled. This is the same crew that crash landed on take off earlier this month. Lt. Nathanson, with gunner Sgt. Kaminski had to abort since the nose wheel did not retract. This left 19 planes to carry on the mission behind a PFF Pathfinder B-26. Heavy flak tracked the formation on a long bomb run with minor damage to planes. Results could not be photographed. Captain Sears and M/Sgt. Wells suffered damage to their plane, found they could not lower their landing gear when attempting to land, so had to belly land in at another air base, A-69. Two other planes landed at A-69 since our field closed in due to weather. All other planes found different airfields to take them in.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 13 January Second Lieutenant William H. Roberts again crash-landed for the same cause, and under almost identical circumstances. This time his aircraft did not catch fire, and neither he nor Sergeant Windisch were injured.
The reason for these crashes was largely undetermined, though frost on wings and frozen carburetors were believed to be important factors.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the 13th, Sgt Orin R. Hawkins was transferred to a General
Hospital and eventually sent back to the United States where he
received a medical discharge from the army. Mention should be made at
this point in the story of the 670th Bombardment Squadron, that Sgt
Hawkins did an outstanding job with the squadron and was primarily
responsible for compiling data used in the squadron history up until
the time he left.
The Steinbruk road bridge in Germany was the target of the January
13th mission. Weak heavy flak was encountered and only minor battle
damage was suffered. The road leading up to the bridge was badly
damaged.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
January 13th, 1945
A small force of the 416th Invaders struck by Pathfinders at the Steinbruck rail bridge, spanning the Our River, 15 miles south of St. Vith on German-Belgium border. A taxiing mishap prevented the full quota of ships from taking off. Only 21 besides the Pathfinder aircraft were airborne. The bombs fell north of the target, causing no apparent damage.
Capt. Sears, flying his third mission, could not lower one landing gear and after several attempts had to belly his plane in at A-69. The plane received major damage, but neither Captain Sears or his gunner, M/Sgt. Wells were injured. The 671st had only two other crews on this mission and they both landed at A-69 also, as the weather at this field had closed in. Weak inaccurate flak was encountered in the target area, but none of the ships were battle damaged.
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[January 13, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, January 13, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |